Rebuilding after a natural disaster

Last updated: 8 December 2023

Information you need to know when rebuilding after a natural disaster.

Before you begin remedial work

Before any Restricted Building Work (RBW) or remedial building work is done on your property, it must be thoroughly dried and aired out.

Any Restricted Building Work must be carried out by a Licenced Building Practitioner (LBP).

This type of work generally involves larger, more complex jobs, such as alterations to foundations, floors, supporting walls and roofs, or remediation of wet area bathrooms.

If you are in doubt about any issue:

• seek help from a qualified professional
• contact our building helpdesk via acebuildhelpdesk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or
• phone 09 353 9358.

When you need to apply for a consent

As you rebuild, there are several ways you can check if you need a consent.

For example:

• If you want to lift your building out of a flood plain, you will need to engage a structural engineer and apply for a building consent.
• Lifting your building may require a resource consent due to the change in height of your building.

To find out more see What is a consent and do you need one?

Guide to applying for a building consent

Follow our Building consent process 10-step guide.

Guide to applying for a resource consent

If you plan to rebuild, you may need a resource consent if:  

• the works are not a replacement 'like for like'

• the works are not permitted activities under the Auckland Unitary Plan, such as Significant Ecological Areas Overlay, works in coastal hazard areas and flood plains. 

Follow our Resource consent process 10-step guide.

Help with your application

We have set up a specific process for building consent and resource consent applications for properties that need repairs due to flood and cyclone damage.

This process is available to both insured and uninsured property owners.

If you need help with this process, and you are a property owner with a red or yellow placard, you can speak to your allocated case manager or email regionalplanninghelpdesk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to discuss your application with our planning team.

If you email us, we recommend you:

• include the words 'flood' or 'cyclone', the property address and the colour of the property placard in the subject line
• attach any relevant photographs and consultant reports.

The fast-track process does not relax consenting requirements. All repairs will be subject to relevant building code and resource management requirements.

Consent fees

Standard fees apply for any resource or building consent application.

Actual charges depend on:

• the scale of the proposed remedial works
• any impacts of ongoing hazards relating to the property.

See Building consent fees and charges
and Resource consent fees and deposits (plus notices of requirement and private plan change requests).

Why we have building and planning rules

We are responsible for ensuring significant building work

• is safe
• is durable
• is sustainable
• poses no health and safety risks to users.

Learn more about Why we have building and planning rules.

Building work you can do yourself

When you rebuild it is important to find out what Building work you can do yourself and when you need a qualified professional.

Altering an existing building

If you need to alter an existing building, you must make sure it complies with the current building code.

See Altering an existing building for more details about the requirements.

Make a change to a building consent

You may need to ask for variations (changes) to consented work.

See Make a change to a building consent.

Amendment to your building consent

An amendment or 'major variation' is a significant change to your building plans that is still within the scope of your original consent. For example, you want to change part, or all, of the proposed cladding system.

See Apply for an amendment (major variation) to your building consent for more information.

A minor variation is needed when the work is minor in nature and does not affect compliance with the building code.

More information about rebuilding after a disaster

• Restoring a home after flood damage
• Exempt building work guide [PDF 9.1MB]
• Building consent exemptions: Frequently asked questions [PDF 312KB]
• Slope stability - Quick guide [PDF 4MB]
• Remediation, repair and urgent works
• Insurance Council of New Zealand: Disaster recovery.